Wenger: We must pay the price

27 September 2011 03:30

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Arsene Wenger understands the gripes of Sir Alex Ferguson over the demands of TV, but believes it is a "sacrifice" all clubs have to make.

Manchester United boss Ferguson launched an attack on television's power over football - saying clubs are having to pay the price for "shaking hands with the devil" and deserved more from overseas rights, blaming television schedules for creating "ridiculous situations" for teams playing in Europe.

However, with the millions which the likes of Sky and other broadcasters plough into the coffers of the top-flight English clubs, Arsenal manager Wenger feels it is just a price which has to be paid.

"I want us to be the best league in the world and I would give anything for that," Wenger told a news conference ahead of Wednesday night's Champions League clash against Olympiacos.

"We have to accept that to be the best league in the world we have to play at 12:45 on Saturday morning because in Asia they can watch us and I am happy to do that.

"We have to give away something, some privileges and you can only do that in any deal you need both winners.

"If you want the Premier League to stay the best league in the world you need to make sacrifices. I am ready for that."

Wenger, though, accepted it was far from a perfect system.

The Arsenal manager added: "The fixtures are not always satisfying - however, it hasn't stopped us from doing well in Europe, nor Man United, nor the other English teams.

"In the Premier League sometimes you can feel a bit handicapped, but maybe that the price you have to pay as well.

"I agree with Ferguson, that we have signed that contract, nobody forced us to do it.

"We are dependent on the money we get from the media and they want something for it. We can only look at ourselves basically."